Teenager gang-raped, murdered in Maharashtra; 4 detained

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped and murdered at a village in Palus Taluka of Sangli district in western Maharashtra, police said on Saturday.

The incident came to light on Friday when the body of the victim was recovered from a roadside in Malwadi village under Bhilawadi police station limits, police said. Four persons have been detained and are being questioned.

"The victim had left her home on the night of January 5 following a heated argument with her mother. However, her mother did not reveal this to any of her relatives, who stay nearby. The girl's father had died a few years back," a police officer said. "Next day, when her body was found, her family members came to the police station," he said.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Kolhapur range, Vishwas Nangare Patil, said that at least four suspects are being questioned in connection with the case.

"We have detained four persons as of now and their interrogation is on. Besides, two more people are being questioned in this case," he said. The girl's body was sent to a government-run hospital for post-mortem, which revealed that the victim had been raped and smothered to death, a police official said. "A case of rape and murder was registered against unidentified persons late last night," the official said.